The Salem Museum recently announced the winners of its new art show which celebrated all artwork depicting a Salem person, place or thing.

Bill and Ellen Arnold sponsored the art show and its prizes. “We were really pleased with the wonderful art that was submitted for our show,” said Alex Burke, the museum’s assistant director. “These are talented, creative artists, working in everything from oils, watercolor and acrylics to photography, ink and pencil drawings. We congratulate all of these artists on their talent and achievement.” People’s Choice Award Winner – Genevieve Witt, for her oil painting “Longwood,” popularly remembered as Salem’s Castle. Mrs. Witt first began painting in her eighties. Voting for the People’s Choice Awards took place from July 14 through July 28, and all artists were eligible. Marialena Tina Collica’s oil painting, “Beautiful Lake Spring Pond, Salem, Virginia,” was the People’s Choice Award Second Runner-up. The other Art Show awards were open to nonprofessional artists and were judged by Carolyn Greene, long-time director of logistics for the Sidewalk Art Show in downtown Roanoke. First Place: Youth Division – Morgan Becker, for her acrylic painting “Francis T. West Hall,” the former Roanoke County Courthouse, now an academic building for Roanoke College. First Place: Adult Division – Patsy Horne Conner, for her watercolor painting titled “Hillbilly Water Park 2,” depicting a popular swimming hole in the Roanoke River in Salem. Second Place (tie): Adult Division – Bill Hill, for “Back of the Coffeehouse,” an acrylic and oil painting of Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea as viewed from the parking lot. Second Place (tie): Adult Division – Esther Davis, for “A Sense of Place,” her photograph on linen of the late afternoon light and shadow under the Osage orange tree in the side yard at Preston Place, 1939 West Main Street. Honorable Mention: Multigenerational – the Williams and Highsmith Families, for “Coneflowers in Langhorne Place,” an oil painting of a local neighborhood garden created by four artists ranging in age from two to 72. The Celebrate Salem Community Art Show continues on display through September 6 featuring works by Morgan Becker, Marialena Tina Collica, Patsy Horne Conner, Esther Davis, Kathy Highsmith, Bill Hill, Mary Lou Hill, Kyra Hinton, Deana B. Marion, Margaret McClung, Rosanne A. Moon, Patricia Placona, Tina Powers, Frankie Robbins, Edwin Tippie and Genevieve Witt. Each of the artists received multiple votes in the People’s Choice Award voting.

– Submitted by Fran Ferguson, Salem Museum & Historical Society Executive Director